Connection manual: Mothers and children program guide
The Connections Manual is a guide for service providers and organizations to deliver group-based interventions for mothers and young children experiencing violence in relationships. Grounded in research and practice, this resource provides a structured curriculum that supports mothers in understanding the impact of violence, substance use, and trauma on their relationships, parenting, and child development. […]
Art assistant volunteer training
Access Alliance uses the arts to enhance newcomer mental health and wellness through a range of expressive arts programs delivered across settlement and healthcare services using a coordinated, team-based approach. To strengthen this work, the Newcomer Artists Mental Health Training was developed in partnership with MABELLEarts. The training was designed to equip newcomer artists with […]
Nesting ground report 2024 – 25
The “Nesting Grounds” program are weekly community arts workshops that emerged in response to participants’ requests for more sustainable, long-term arts programming that supports well-being in a non-threatening and destigmatizing way. Participants shared that arts programs supported their mental health and sense of connection, while expressing a need for ongoing opportunities beyond short-term workshops. Learn […]
Arts model of care
Drawing on Access Alliance’s two decades of experience in arts-based practices, our team has developed a model to enhance newcomer mental health through the arts. By implementing a client-centered approach, we found that many participants were hesitant to engage in one-on-one therapy. This model provides an alternative by allowing individuals to engage in mental health […]
Community-based research toolkit
The Community-Based Research Toolkit offers tools, templates and resources. This toolkit is for individuals and organizations using community-based research (CBR) principles. It provides best practices to support project planning, partnership building, peer researcher engagement, and participatory research implementation. Special feature: Includes over 70 tools and ready-to-use templates, steps for the full-cycle of your project, effective activities […]
Everyone can do research handbook
The Everyone Can Do Research handbook training his plain-language research toolkit makes research accessible and inclusive for non-academics and marginalized communities by providing step-by-step guidance grounded in community-based research principles and nearly a decade of CBR experience. Special feature: Uses icons to help you navigate the handbook, useable worksheets, and planning documents to get you started. […]
Knowledge to action handbook
This Knowledge to action handbook showcases creative and collaborative ways of to put knowledge into action through film. It offers clear definitions, practical tools, and helpful tips for sharing research using participatory filmmaking, drawing on lessons from the Knowledge to Action Initiative. This handbook can be adapted to your community of focus. Special feature: Best practices when […]
Peer research training handbook
The Peer Research Training Handbook is adapted from the Peer Training manual for the project titled “Impact of Family Loss and Separation on Refugee Youth: Implications for Policy and Programs” funded by the Children and Youth Refugee Research Coalition (CYRRC). The handbook was developed to train internationally educated and trained researchers, young and emerging researchers, […]
Co-design reports
These co-design reports capture the collaborative activities, expert insights, and community-informed processes that shaped the development of the HEAL 12-week expressive arts program. The project gathered knowledge across conference engagement, facilitated co-creation sessions, and in-depth informational interviews. Together, these documents reflect how the HEAL Project integrates Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) to ensure that program […]
Collective painting gallery booklets
These Gallery Booklets feature image insights into 12 collective paintings produced from the HEAL Programs. Six cohorts of newcomer women engaged in the 12 session expressive arts intervention with a total of 52 participants completing both the program and evaluation process. Each booklet provides a glimpse into the transformative power of art as a pathway […]